Congressional aides will discuss climate bill with business execs Friday

Aides to Sens. John Kerry and Joseph Lieberman are scheduled to give business executives a closed-door briefing on climate change legislation on Friday morning.

Kathleen Frangione, a staff aide to Kerry, and Danielle Rosengarten, counsel and legislative assistant to Lieberman, are scheduled to discuss the legislation with members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s energy and environment committee, according to an email invitation obtained by E2 Wire. An aide for Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who helped Kerry and Lieberman craft the climate bill, was originally scheduled to attend but backed out after Graham withdrew support for the legislation.

It remains unclear when the bill will be released publicly, although indications are that day is finally approaching. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), the chairwoman of the Environment & Public Works Committee, told reporters this week that Kerry and Lieberman planned to introduce the bill next week. Kerry has only committed to releasing the long-anticipated measure “very soon.” Lieberman, meanwhile, told Bloomberg that he expected the legislation to be introduced without Graham’s support.

Kerry and Lieberman -- and Graham before he backed out of the talks -- have made an extra push to attract support for their plan from utilities, oil companies and large manufacturers. There have already been a number of background briefings for energy lobbyists on what direction the legislation was taking.

Energy lobbyists, though, are increasingly anxious to see legislative text and have resisted entreaties by Kerry to endorse the bill based on outlines and power point presentations.

“Not showing any text is not constructive at this point in time, given the amount of work that everyone has put in on the process,” said one source close to the negotiations.

Graham’s decision to withdraw his support forced Kerry to cancel a press conference to unveil the bill at the last minute last month.